Important Rules of Great Pet Sitters
Pet sitters play a crucial role in the lives of pet parents who wish to travel or need to leave their pets for an extended amount of time. Pet sitters can watch pets in their own homes or make multiple daily visits to their clients’ homes, and even sleep over. The objective of a pet sitter is to provide excellent care to the pet, keep an open line of communication with the owners, and to make the experience as pleasant as possible for everyone. To be an amazing pet sitter, you should follow these three rules:
- Gather the details and make sure that it is a good fit. Meet with the client and pet in their home before you begin the assignment. Most of the time, pet sitters are great with pets but not with people. This is the wrong way to go about things. You need to be able to build rapport with the client because this will earn their trust. Do not be afraid to ask questions. Interact with the pet! Reassure your client that you’ll attend to and care for their animal in the best way possible. Gather all important information such as emergency contacts, vet information, feeding instructions, medications, etc. Be thorough!
- Manage expectations. If the client wants something that you cannot provide, it is best to be honest and upfront about it. Discuss what each visit will entail and go over a typical day in the life of a pet. It is best to be as realistic as possible with clients and discuss any additional tasks that you may be able to perform while watching the pet.
- Go above and beyond! You shouldn’t wait for your client to check in with you and ask how the dog is. Instead, proactively communicate with your client. Text them when you arrive at their house and give them an update. Many clients love pictures and videos of their four-legged friends. Send them over to assure that they are in good hands! Recognize the needs of the pets and respond accordingly. Your goal is to reassure the client that they made the best decision to hire you as their pet sitter.
These are just a few things that you can do to ensure that you stand out amongst the crowd! Remember, leaving a pet behind can be overwhelming. Use our rules to separate yourself from the average pet sitter. Referrals are huge in the industry. You will be able to attract more clients if you do a phenomenal job!
